Miles Burnett Convenes Roundtable with Stakeholders to Tackle Binghamton’s Housing Crisis

Discussion Stressed the Need for Extensive City-Led Building Plan, Service Coordination, and Tenant Protections

Binghamton, NY--On Monday, July 21, 2025, local stakeholders representing ten different organizations were brought together by the Miles Burnett for Binghamton Campaign to discuss solutions to the city’s greatest challenge: the housing crisis. Burnett presented his recently released housing platform and heard from local housing providers, tenants, non-profits, and elected officials about the barriers to coordination between agencies and government, the necessity of tenant protections, the impact of Trump’s cut to housing programs, and the Rental Registry legislation currently working its way through Binghamton City Council. During the two hour meeting, the group shared first hand accounts about rising homelessness–especially among the elderly–tenant experiences, and difficulties facing local housing providers.

The biggest identified issue, however, is the utter lack of available housing and the slow pace housing comes on-line. With over half of all Binghamton renters overburdened by housing costs, and over 5,000 new units needed in the next ten years, new, city-led housing construction and more resources for NGO housing providers, the participants concluded, will be the cornerstone of any successful effort.

“I got into this race to tackle the housing crisis head on,” said Binghamton Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for Mayor, Miles Burnett, opening the roundtable, “and, as Mayor, it will be my number one priority. Our community lacks housing of every kind, failing young and first time home buyers, seniors, families, and low-income residents alike. We have a monumental task ahead of us. But, I have never been so hopeful than after hearing from these amazing, knowledgeable, roundtable members. With their help, the support of Binghamton residents, and a dedicated city government there is so much more we can do to build wealth through homeownership and bring more affordable units online. Investments in quality, affordable housing is the best investment the city can make for our community members and economy alike.”

This is the first of several issue roundtables the campaign expects to hold throughout the summer and fall. Burnett also said the roundtables will be central to his mode of governing and will meet regularly when he is running the city.

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